CID to probe how Fig Tree changed hands
Detectives are investigating how ownership of the multi-million Fig Tree Hotel in Ngara was altered without a resolution of all the shareholders.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is keen to find out how 2,175 shares were created and given to one section of the shareholders last year.
The CID joined the probe after a complaint was filed by the hotel’s current management.
The Registrar of Companies is on the spot over how the stakes of the directors were changed despite a disclaimer the company had issues.
City hotel
The hotel owners are embroiled in a dispute over ownership after one group led by Mr Stephen Maina and Patrick Githinji allegedly changed the shareholding stakes after holding an “extra ordinary meeting” of eight shareholders at a city hotel two months ago.
The investigations officer in the case, based at Nairobi Area, is also being probed over his role in a dawn raid a fortnight ago.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) is investigating how the officer, a Mr Kiragu, joined one section of the shareholders on April 25 in storming the premises to flush out the management and clients at the hotel.
Integrity
IPOA, according to documents seen by NairobiNews, will be interested in determining the integrity of the investigations, if the officer in charge participated in the raid without a court order.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is also handling the matter.
Three directors: Lucy Waithera, Julius Mwangi, and John Irungu wrote to the registrar and the CID on April 24 complaining of the former’s complacency in effecting changes to shareholding stakes.
“Our client is dismayed that despite being aware of the position and without informing them you registered returns which was not filed by the company purporting to remove our clients as directors….” read the letter by the Waithera group lawyer Charles Njuguna.
The directors fault the filing of last year’s returns and now demand cancellation of the registration. Lawyer Njuguna writes: “We demand you provide us with copies of all documents filed and which you relied on to effect the changes…”